Planter marker control



Oct. 18, 1960 A. J. IMMESOETE PLANTER MARKER CONTROL Filed March 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 1 ARTHUR J. IMMESOETE ATT RNEYS Oct. 18, 1960 A. J. IMMESOETIE 2,956,629

PLANTER MARKER CONTROL Filed March 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR J. IMMESOETE TTORNEYS United States Patent PLANTER MARKER'CONTROL Arthur 'J. Immesoete, Moline, Ill.,. assignor,"by'mesne'assignments, to Deere '& Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 27, 1957,-Ser. N0..648,864

Claims. (Cl. 172-428) The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and more particularly to marker means for such implements as planters and the like.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of an implement, such as a planter, having new and'improved marker means and new and improved means for controlling the marker arms. More specifically, it is a feature of this invention to provide generally laterally inwardly and outwardly swinging marker arms, with means for swinging the marker arms from one position to another that derives operating energy from the means for raising and lowering the implement into and out ofits transport or non-working position. 'More particularly, it is a feature of the present-invention" to provide means for actuating-themarker arms-'that-is connected with the generally vertically swingable wheel frame-that is raised and lowered relative to the main frame of the implement.

Another important featureof the presentinvention is the provision of new and improved marker controlling latch-means operating in conjunction with a flexible element extending across the front of the implement-and'connected at its end with the marker arms, with means for maintaining said element'tautboth inr-thetransportand in the operating positions of the marker arms.

A further feature of this invention is theprovision-o'f means for supporting the markerarms-positiv'ely and securely when transporting the implement-over relatively long distances so that under practically all circumstances the inadvertent lowering of the marker arms or-movement of them out of their transport position is prevented. Still further, in this connection another feature of this invention is the provision of means whereby inadvertent swinging of the marker arms into their transport brackets is prevented when such action is not desired.

Another feature of this invention'is the provision of a new and improved marker arm arrangement in=which the marking element includes a disk, which can accommodate a greater amount of trash and the like than other types of marking elements, with means mounting :the marker disks so that they are always disposed atan'an'gle to the line of travel and will therefore'encounter suflicient soil resistance so that the marker armswill swing backward'ly into operating position quickly and without delay.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a four-row planter in which the principles of this invention have been .incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the means holding the marker latch chain taut when both marker arms are swung forwardly into their raised or transport position.

-Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the 'ice -Fig. 4 is 'an enlarged'fragmentary view showing the mountingof the latch controlling rod, and associated parts.

-Fi'g. 's'is afra'gmentary view, diagrammatic in character, illustrating the angular relationbetween themarker disk and the direction'of travel when the marker arm swings *fro'm transport or inoperative position laterally outwardly to a working position.

Referring firstto Fig. 1, the-implement .in-which the principles of thisinventi'on have been incorporated is shown as a planter, indicated in itsentirety by the 'reference numeral-10. The planter includes a main frame 11 that is made'up of a rearbar section 12, end sections 13, and generally forward andlaterally and inwardly directed frame sect-ions 14. Generally, the sections 12, 13 and 14 comprise a channel member bent to the configuration shown, with theinner'adjacent portions of the end secti0ns14 secured, as by-weldingor the like,'to'a'short sleeve 16 thatreceives the rear-end of 'a'draftor'hitch member thatpreferab'ly is in the form of; apipe 15. The frame 11 is completed by a=plurality-of'fore-andmft extending bars 17, 18' and 1-9," and other laterally' extending bars-21 and 22, ateach side of the-frame, all'bolted'or welded together to form a rigid framewo'rk. "Mountedon each set of transverse bars 21 and 22 is a furrow opener unit 25 and an associated seed hopper 26, thelatter also containing suitable seed dispensing mechanism. Through suitablefront and rearbrackets 28 and'29'the'frame 11 also carries fertilizer tanks 31. The rear end of the draft pipe 15'is removably'disposed-in the sleeve 1'6'andthe latter is secured, as by welding,-to"a'cross bar 32, as shown in "Fig. 1.

The frame 11 and associated parts are supported on "a wheel carrier unit 35. This-unit includes a wheel frame 36 that ismade up of a generally transversely-disposed pipe "member '37, forming a rockshaft, that'is journaled for rocking-movement in'ajplurality'of bearing'brackets, one of which is indicated 'at'38-in'Fig. 3. These brackets are carried by the rear bar section 12 0f the frame ll. A pair of inner and outer arms 41and "42 are fixed to each e'nd'ofthe rockshaft 37 and at their outer endsrotatably receive aiground wheel '43. An arm 45 is fixed to the generally central portion of the rockshaft'37 andis connected-by alink46 with an arm 47 that is journaled in'a bracket 48'carried at therear end of the sleeve member 16. The latter'member also carries a forward bracket 50, and apower cylinder (not shown) is adapted to be connected between the bracket '50 and the upper end of the arm 47, whereby the power cylinder serves as means for rocking the wheel frame for raising and lowering themain frame '11 and associated parts. Movement of the wheel frame 36 relative to the main frame'll ismadeuse'of, according to the present inventiomfor raising and lowering the marker arms, and'the mechanism for thispurpose will now be described.

Referring 'iirst to the marker 'arm construction, a marker arm support 51 is fixed'to each rear corner of the main frame 11, each support including a'generally-vertically disposed r0d52 and apair of apertured bracket plates 53 welded'to the'lower portion thereof and apertured to receive bolts'54 or other means fastening the support 51 to the main frame. 'The rod52 extends downw-ardly at its lowerend and looselyreceives the associated marker arm 55, the latter beingswingable generally in a horizontal plane and also upwardly and downwardly relative thereto through a limited extent. Theupper portion 57 of the supporting rod 52 is extended upwardly and rearwardly and an elevating chain section 58 is connected at itsupper end to the upperportion of the rod section 57, the chain section 58 extending 'forwardly'and being connecte'dyas .at:'59,-shown in-the right hand portion of Fig. 1. Since the upper end ofthe rod support 52 is disposed a considerable distance outwardly and rearwardly of the lower pivotal connection between the marker arm 55 and its support rod 52, when the marker arm extends generally laterally outwardly away from the frame 11, the outer end of the marker arm is disposed in a lower portion, but when the arm 55 is swung around forwardly and laterally inwardly toward the side of the frame 11, the marker arm 55 is raised, as shown in the right hand portion of Fig. l. The marker arm 55 shown in the left hand portion of Fig. l is in its lowered or operating position. Any suitable marking element may be fixed to the outer end of each marker arm 55, but I prefer to use, especially when operating under trashy conditions, a mark-forming disk 61. The mark-forming disk 61 is mounted on the outer end of the associated marker arm 55 in a special way so that automatic movement of the marker arm laterally outwardly and rearwardly to its operating or mark-forming position will be assured. Reference to this action will be made later.

As was mentioned above, to raise the marker arms into an inoperative transport position, it is a feature of this invention to utilize a movement of the wheel frame 36 relative to the main frame. For this purpose, a lifting chain 65 is provided for each marker arm 55. The innermost end of each chain 65 is connected to the outer wheel arm 41 in any suitable way and the chain extends therefrom upwardly through a first sheave '66 and then rearwardly and around a second sheave 67, both being carried by the associated frame bar 19. From the sheave 67, the chain 65 extends laterally outwardly through a supporting clip 68 and an aperture 69 formed in the side section 13. The laterally outer end of the chain 65 is connected by a cotter 71 or any suitable means to the adjacent portion of the arm 55. As will best be seen from Fig. 3, in which the wheel frame is shown in its upper position, which disposes the furrow openers 25 in a ground working position, the chain 65 has suflicient slack therein to accommodate movement of the marker arm 55 laterally outwardly and rearwardly to about the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, which corresponds to the position shown in the left hand portion of Fig. 1. As will be understood from Fig. 3, whenever the wheel frame 36 is swung downwardly to raise the main frame and associated furrow openers and other parts into a transport position, out of contact with the ground, the resulting downward movement of the forward ends of the arm will exert a pull through the associated chains 65 and raise either or both of the marker arms 55 into a transport position. During this action the marker arm being raised is swung forwardly by virtue of the pull exerted thereon by the chain 65, and as the marker arm 55 is swung forwardly the chain section 58 also causes the same to be elevated. As a result of this action, the marker arm 55 is swung into a position closely adjacent that indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. It will be understood, first, that normally only one marker arm is in operating position at any one time, the other marker arm being held in a transport or inoperative position, and therefore whenever the wheel frame is lowered to raise the main frame, only the lowered marker arm will be raised.

Fig. 3 also shows a feature of the present invention wherein a transport bracket, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 75, is provided at each end of the frame 11. Each bracket 75 comprises an upwardly extending U-shaped bracket section, formed by legs 76 and 77 the lower portions of which are fixed, as by welding or the like, through a horizontal bracket section 78 that is fixed, as by a bolt 79, to the associated side section of the main frame 11. The bolt 79 may be one of two bolts, shown at 79 and 81, that connect the associated crossbar 22 in place. For ordinary operation, as when turning at the end of the field or the like, the marker arm 55 is not carried in the transport bracket 75. However, whenever the implement is to be transported considerable distances, both marker arms 55 are adapted to be lifted manually 4 into the bracket 75, the legs 76 and 77 of which are apertured to receive a retaining pin 82. By disposing the marker arm 55 in the transport brackets 75, the chains are relieved of holding the marker arms in their elevated position and by the use of the retaining pins 82, there is no likelihood that the marker arms 55 may become accidentally disconnected which, if permitted to occur, might cause one or both of the marker arms 55 to collide with adjacent objects, such as a fence, buildings or the like when transporting the implement.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 3, the retaining pins 82 are considerably longer than the distance between the associated bracket legs 76 and 77. When the pins 82 are used to retain the marker arms 55 in the associated bracket 75, the long ends of the pins are disposed laterally inwardly, but when in operation after the marker arms 55 have been manually released from the brackets 75, the long ends of the pins 82 are disposed laterally outwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. This provides a means which acts to prevent either the marker arms from being swung upwardly with sufficient velocity to cause them to collide with and possibly rebound into the associated bracket 75. If this were permitted to occur, during operation, the marker arm could not be automatically lowered by movement of the wheel frame until the operator manually released the marker arm from the bracket 75.

New and improved latch means for controlling the marker arms will now be described.

A transverse chain 91 is extended from one marker arm across the front of the machine to the other marker arm, and preferably, but not necessarily, the chain sections 58 described above form the outer ends of the transverse chain 91. The chain passes along in front of the end frame sections 14, being extended through guide clips 92 which form abutments cooperating with stops 93 carried by the chain. Each stop 93 is adjustable along the chain so that when the stop 93 engages the abutment 92, the associated marker arm 55 is held in the desired laterally outwardly extending or operating position. The generally central portion of the chain 91 is formed with loop portions 95, these portions of the chain 91 passing around sheaves 96 that are carried for rotation on a suitable upwardly and forwardly extending bracket 98 fixed to the forward central portion of the main frame 11, preferably the portion through which the hitch pipe 15 extends, as best shown in Fig. 1. The bracket 98 carries suitable means 101 on which the sheaves 96 are journaled, and this means also forms a support for an upper angle bracket 102, the upper flange 103 of which is apertured to receive a latch controlling rod 104. The rod 104 extends forwardly and upwardly, as best shown in Fig. l, and at its upper end is supported on a strut 105 fastened at its lower end to the forward portion of the hitch pipe 15. The bracket 102 also supports a snap action type of latch member 106 (Fig. 4) that is adapted to clamp against one or the other of the associated chain sections that pass around the sheaves 96. When, for example, the part 106 is held against the chain section that passes around one of the sheaves 96, that chain section is, in effect, locked, and thus holds the associated marker arm against downward and outward movement, even though the wheel frame should be raised relative to the main frame. However, the other chain section is released, so that when the wheel frame is raised, the marker arm associated with said other chain section is permitted to lower. As shown in Fig. 4, the upper chain section is latched against the associated sheave while the lower chain section and its associated sheave 96 is free to move. The latch member 106 is controlled by an arm 109 that lies just underneath the lowermost end portion 111 of the control rod 104. The latter carries a yoke 112 having ends 113 and 114 that are adapted to swing the control part 109 from one side to the other. The present invention is not particularly concerned with the '5 details of the latching means, and therefore the saine has been illustrated only fragmentarily-in Fig.4.

The loop section 95 of'the chain 91 is adapted toextend upwardly andforwardly "along the underside of the rod 104 when both abutment arms are raised. This loop section 95 at its uppermost portion is trained over a smoothly curved section .'11 'found on aslide 116that is movable along the rod 104. A spring IlTis con nected at its lower end to 'ihetslide 1 16-and1at-rits upper end to a portion 118 of thexrod 8111311011105. The spring 117 exerts suflicient tensionzagainst the loop portion 95 of the chain to take up all.:s'laek:orrlooseness therein, which might otherwise occur-whenaboth markerannsiare in their raised position, theichain 59.1 ."having sufli'cient length to accommodate one arm :being:in.-its lowered or rearward operating position while the other arm is'raise'd, as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, whenwbothrmarker arms are swung forwardly into their. .raised or transport .position, without the spring 117 and associated parts, .the chain 91 might be sufliciently slack'to permitthe lower portion thereof to come into contact with objects on'the ground, which would, of course, be undesirable. In this respect, the rod 104 serves two purposes, one being'to actuate the marker arm controlling latch means and the other to provide a sliding support for the spring biased part 116 that is yieldingly urged upwardly, thus eliminating all slack in the chain 91 when both marker arms are raised.

Referring now to Fig. 5 it will be seen that each markforrning disk 61 is fixed to the associated arm 55 by bracket 'means 125 that is so constructed and arranged that the plane of the disk 61, indicated at P, lies in a vertical forwardly converging relationship when the arm 55 is extended laterally outwardly in operating position. By virtue of this arrangement, when the marker arm 55 swings outwardly and rearwardly from its transport'position, the disk 61 will engage the ground in sucha way that at no time will the plane P of the disk lie parallel to the direction of forward travel. If this were permitted to occur, the disk might continue to rotate in that plane and, at least under certain conditions, not cause the marker arm to continue its outward movement. Arranging the marker disks 61 in the manner shown, insures that there always is suificient soil resistance acting against the disk to swing the marker arm to its laterally outwardly extending or operating position.

\Nhile I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details, shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An agricultural implement comprising a main frame having side sections and a rear section disposed generally transversely relative to the normal direction of travel, a wheel frame swingably connected with the rear section of said main frame for generally vertical movement relative thereto, a pair of marker arms swingably connected with the rear portions of said side sections, respectively, and adapted to swing generally laterally inwardly and outwardly relative to the main frame, said side sections being apertured, and a flexible connection between each marker arm and the adjacent portion of said wheel frame, each connection extending through the aperture in the adjacent main frame side section to the wheel frame, said connections serving to swing the marker arms laterally inwardly and upwardly relative to the main frame whenever said wheel frame is lowered relative to the main frame.

2. An agricultural implement comprising a main frame, a wheel frame swingably connected with said main frame for generally vertical movement relative thereto, a pair .8 of marker arms swingably connected with saidimain frame and 'movable between :operative and inoperativeiposi: tions, iaiconnection between said wheel :frame and -said marker armsfor raising the latter Whensaidrwheeluframe is lowered :relative tothe main frame, atlatchingrconr nection extending from one marker generally transverse.- ly of th'eimain frame to the other marker-Farm andimovable transversely of said main frame when eitl-rerxmarker arm is raised :or lowered,.;sa'rdl latching connectionbeing separate-from the connection between the wheel frame and the marker anns andilatch :means carried'bysaid main frame and 'engageablewith said'latching connection for holding one :or the iotherof saidmarker far-ms in'a raisediposition when the'wheel frame is raise'dzrelative'to' the mainframe.

3. An agricultural implement comprisingamain frame, a pair of marker-arms :swingably'connected'with said main frame and. movable generally laterally inwardly and ioutwardly relative to the main frame :between operative and inoperative positions, .flexiblemeans interconnecting the :outer portions ofsai'd arms viforwcausing one'arm to be swung inwardly toward said main frame when the other is swungoutwardlyaway from said main frame, manually controlled means acting against said flexible means for selectively locking .one or the other of said arms againstoutward movement relative tozsaid main frame, and means separate from said flexible means for swinging said bothofmarker arms laterally inwardly relative to said main frame.

4. The invention 'setiforth in claim 3, further char- :acterized'by said flexible interconnecting'means comprising-a flexible elementhaving acentral loop portion, trained over a pair of sheaves over which said flexible element adjacent .saidloop is'trained,a'nd sprin'g'mea'ns acting against said loop to take up slack insaidflexible element'when both of said marker arms are swun'g'into their laterally inner'position.

5. In an agricultural implement, having a frame and a pair of generally inwardly and outwardly swingable marker arms, the improvement comprising marker arm control means that includes a transversely movable flexible element connected at its ends with said marker arms, a generally upwardly extending part carried by said frame, a pair of sheaves carried by the lower portion of said part, said flexible element having a loop portion extended between and passing over said sheaves and extending generally upwardly along said part, means movable along said part to support said loop portion, and latch means movably carried by said frame and adapted to clamp portions of said flexible element against said sheaves, optionally.

6. In an agricultural implement, having a frame and a pair of generally inwardly and outwardly swingable marker arms, the improvement comprising marker arm control means that includes a transversely movable flexible element connected at its ends with said marker arms, a pair of sheaves carried by said frame, said flexible element having a loop portion extended between and passing over said sheaves, means serving as an outwardly extending support, a slide movably carried by said support means and receiving the outer part of said loop, and spring means connected to act between said support and said slide to keep said flexible element taut in different positions of said marker arms.

7. In an agricultural implement, having a frame and a pair of generally inwardly and outwardly swingable marker arms, the improvement comprising marker arm control means that includes a transversely movable flexible element connected at its ends with said marker arms, a pair of sheaves carried by said frame, said flexible element having a loop portion extended between and passing over said sheaves, a latching member movable between said sheaves for optionally locking the associated portions of said flexible element, against said sheaves, so as to hold one or the other of said marker arms in elevated position, means including an upwardly and forwardly extending rockable member connected to operate said latching member for releasing one or the other of said marker arms, a part slidably mounted on said rockable member and carrying sheave means receiving and supporting said loop portion, and a spring connected between said loop portion and said rockahle member for yieldably holding said slida-ble part in an upper position.

8. In an agricultural implement including a frame, marker means comprising a pair of marker arms swinga'bly connected at their rear ends to opposite sides of said frame and movable generally horizontally between an inoperative position alongside the sides of the frame and extending generally forwardly and an operative position extending generally laterally outwardly of the sides of the frame, a marker disk at the outer end of each marker arm, and means mounting each disk on the associated marker arm at an angle to the marker arm, the angle of the disk being such that the generally vertical plane of the disk extends outwardly and forwardly of the frame when the associated marker arm extends forwardly generally alongside the frame and outwardly and rearwardly when the marker arm extends generally laterally outwardly whereby, as the marker arm moves from its inoperative position to its operative position, said disk is always angled relative to the direction of travel of the implement.

9. An agricultural implement comprising a main frame having side sections and a rear section disposed generally transversely relative to the normal direction of travel, a wheel frame swingably connected with the rear section of said main frame for generally vertical movement relative thereto, a pair of marker arms swingably connected with the rear portions of said side sections, respectively, and adapted to swing generally laterally inwardly and outwardly relative to the main frame, and a flexible connection between each marker arm and the adjacent portion of said wheel frame, each connection extending across the adjacent main frame side section to the wheel frame, and said connections serving to swing the marker arms laterally inwardly and upwardly relative to the main frame whenever said wheel frame is lowered relative to the main frame.

10. An agricultural implement comprising a main frame, a wheel frame swingably connected with said main frame for generally vertical movement relative thereto, a pair of marker arms swinga-bly connected with said main frame and movable between operative and inoperative positions, an operating connection between each marker arm and the adjacent portion of the wheel frame for raising both marker when said wheel frame is lowered relative to the main frame, a latching connection separate from said operating connections and extending from one marker generally transversely of the main frame to the other marker arm, spring means acting to move said latching connection generally transversely of said main frame when either marker arm is raised, and latch means carried by said main frame and engageable with said latching connection for holding one or the other of said marker arms in a raised position when the wheel frame is raised relative to the main frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 367,468 Thompson Aug. 2, 1387 1,306,152 Krotz June 10, 1919 1,403,908 Mineart et al. Jan. 17, 1922 2,063,852 Ray Dec. 8, 1936 2,341,146 Kriegbaurn et al. Feb. 8, 1944 2,546,412 White et al Mar. 27, 1951 2,584,200 Hand et al. Feb. 5, 1952 2,604,027 Hansen July 22, 1952 

